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SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 
Group V. No. 193 






HOW TO PLAY 
BASKET BALL 






A Thesis on the Technique of the Game 

BY 

GUERDON N. MESSER, B.P.E. 

First Lieutenant Infantry, U. S. A. 
Physical Training and Athletic Officer, Camp Gordon, Ga., 

and Camp Sherman, Ohio 

Assistant State Inspector of Physical Training, New York 

State Military Training Commission 






Published by 

AMERICAN SPORTS PUBLISHING COMPANY 
45 Rose Street, New York 








Copyright, 1919 

BY 

American Sports Publishing Company 
New York 



©CLA5ll64t> 



m 20 1919 



CONTENTS 

Introduction 5 

1 he Technique of Basket Shooting 7 

Shooting from the Foul Line , 17 

Catching and Passing tlie Ball 21 

The Selection of Forwards, Centers and Guards 28 

Team Work and Formations from the Center 33 

Training a Team 56 

Formations for Putting Ball in Play from Out of Bounds 65 

The Position Style ot Game 75 

Duties of the Captain , 79 

Duties of the Manager 83 

Duties of the Coach 89 

The Grounds 97 

How to Of^ciate 99 

How to Score Basket Ball 100 



"T" 
O 

Basket 



LEFT FORWARD RIGHT FORWARD 



CENTER 



LEFT GUARD RIGHT GUARD 



Basket 

O 

_L_ 



Diagram of Basket Ball Field, Showing Position of Five-Man Te 



INTRODUCTION 

The game known as basket ball was invented in 1892 by Dr. 
James Naismith, at that time a professor in the Y. M. C. A. 
Training School, Springfield, Mass., and now physical director 
of the Department of Physical Training in the University of 
Kansas. The game has passed through all of the usual stages 
of evolution, has been played by all types of people and in 
almost every land. The rules have evolved with the game. They 
were at first very simple, but have become more and more 
complex with each succeeding year. It has been a game peculiarly 
adapted to all classes of people, for it can be played without 
training or skill and for exercise only, or it may be made a 
scientific game, requiring careful training, great skill and 
constant practice. 

It is needless to say that the scientific game has been the 
one which has commanded the greatest attention; the sporting 
•.vorld has produced some genuine students of the art, for an art 
it surely has become. Basket ball has come to stay. It has met 
g very great need in the world of sport. It is interesting both to 
the player and to the spectator. It produces a winter sport fully 
as popular as foot ball or base ball and develops personal quali- 
ties in the player which may be of great value in life's struggle. 
There are many dangers to be avoided and many strong points 
to be developed, but the writer believes that the best method of 
playing a clean, fast and successful game is to give attention 
to the playing of the ball rather than to the play as directed 
against an opponent. Various parts of the country have 
developed different styles of play, about which there are many 
opinions as to their value. It is not the purpose of the writer 
to discuss such matters. 

To play the ball successfully demands a very different technique 
from that of playing against an opponent. It has been the 
purpose of the writer to present such a technique, hoping to aid 
some coaches in their work, but mainly to assist young men and 



Q SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

boys who are not able to secure a coach, but who would wel- 
come instruction upon the chief points of the game. 

This thesis does not exhaust the subject, nor does it claim to 
say the last word upon the various themes presented. It is simply 
an. attempt to give such suggestions as will tend towards the 
development of a more scientific game, and thus to help towards 
the ideal which was in the mind of the inventor and those 
immediately associated with him. 

The ^riter wishes to acknowledge the inspiration and help 
given him by Dr. Naismith. In a personal conference, this 
student, an advocate of clean sport, expressed a desire to see such 
a treatise and urged its writing. His interest therefore has had 
much to do with its preparation. I also wish to acknowledge 
the assistance of various others, such as Dr. F. N. Seerley and 
Prof. F. S. Hyde, who have given advice, encouragement and 
genuine help. r 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBEARY. 



THE TECHNIQUE OF BASKET SHOOTING 

It is a difficult matter to give a graphic description of the only 
proper way in which to shoot a goal, for the same holds true 
here as in base ball batting, where each player has some slight 
peculiarity, which is common only to himself, and which he often 
uses to good advantage. Sometimes some of these peculiarities 
are detrimental to the proper form of shooting, and it is for this 
reason that I shall endeavor to write a brief description of the 
different ways in attempting to shoot goals, after which I shall 
describe the way conceded by authorities as the proper one in 
which to shoot a goal. 




Illustration No. I . Ball and Basket G>mpare(] in size. 



Let us first describe the apparatus to be used. The rules pro- 
vide for a goal comprising a circular iron hoop, measuring i8 
inches in diameter, fastened to and supported by a backboard 
4 by 6 feet in size. The goal should be located lO feet from the 
floor and 6 inches from the backboard. The ball, according to the 
official rules, should be round, made of rubber bladder covered by 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LiBRARt. 




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a leather case not less than 30 nor more than 32 inches in cir- 
cumference, or between 9 and 10 inches in diameter, and should 
weigh not less than 18 nor more than 21 ounces. 

With this apparatus in mind, first the basket and second the 
ball, we can proceed with the technique of how to shoot a goal. 
With the above dimensions clearly in mind, we can readily 
see that the shot which raises the ball in such a manner that it 
describes a loop and drops through the rim, from a position 
higher than the basket itself, has a much better chance of being 
successful than the one which sends the ball at the basket in a 
straight line or on an angle. It is a self-evident fact then, that the 
more loop you can get onto the ball, the higher it will rise above 
the basket and the straighter and easier it will fall through the 
goal, that is, on a perpendicular line drawn at right angles to the 
diameter of the 18-inch circle. On the other hand, the more 
directly the ball is thrown at the rim of the basket, the more 
elliptical in shape the basket becomes and the less chance the ball 
has of passing through the net. 

If you will take a circle, say the accompanying illustration, and 
imagine the ball being dropped from above into the basket, you 
will then get the same effect as is obtained when the ball is 
looped instead of thrown straight at the rim. Now, instead of 
dropping the ball through the net, try to send it just skimming 
over the side of the basket. You will notice that this is a hard 
shot, because the circle has practically become an ellipse in rela- 
tion to the ball passing through it. Therefore, it is much harder 
to shoot the ball through this ellipse, which has a shorter diam- 
eter than 18 inches, than it was previously through the 18-inch 
circle. In illustrations Nos. 2 and 3, I have shown the ball coming 
into the basket at 45 and 60 degrees. I might have illustrated it 
coming in at all angles above and below these angles, but in all 
cases the ultimate result would be the same. The dotted line in 
the drawing shows exactly what shape the basket would be in 
relation to the ball when the ball is shot from any of the above 
named angles. If the ball is shot at a greater angle than 45 
or 60 the basket will become more elliptical in form. If the ball 
is sent directly over the rim, say at an angle of 90 degrees, the 



10 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

ellipse then has only the same diameter as the ball and therefore 
the shot will very seldom be successful. (Illustration No. 4.) 
We can see from the above illustrations then that to loop the 
ball is the only sure way. 

At first this looping may be a little exaggerated. Do not pre- 
vent this fault but rather encourage it, for it will soon remedy 
itself as the shooter advances in the art and becomes more 
successful. 

With these facts clearly before us we are now able to observe 
that one of the first essentials which a shot must possess in order 
to be even moderately assured of success is height, and second, 
that this can be only obtained by looping the ball so that it will 
fall directly into the basket, i. e., on an imaginary line drawn 
perpendicular to the diameter of the 18-inch circle. With the 
above in mind, then, I will endeavor to describe the different 
kinds of shots most commonly used and show just where they 
are most successful and where they fail. 

First, let us consider the easiest way in which to shoot the 
ball at the basket. This, without doubt, is the underhand toss 
and is the way in which inexperienced players shoot when they 
first handle the ball. 

The real underlying cause for inexperienced players using this 
shot is that it is the easiest (not the most scientific) way in which 
to get the ball above the rim of the basket and they therefore 
instinctively use it. The ball may be thrown from either one 
or both hands and is sometimes very effective, especially when 
underneath the basket. I have known several college players 
who have used the underhand toss for long shots at the basket, 
but they were never so successful in securing points for their 
team by using this form as others were who made use of the 
overhand loop shot. The great difficulty with the underhand 
toss is the fact that it can easily be blocked. An opponent guard- 
ing a player shooting in this manner has simply to raise his 
arm over those of the shooter and the shot is blocked. Not 
so with the overhand loop shot, where the guard has difficulty in 
reaching the ball, since it starts high in the air. Considering then 
that one of the absolutely essential requirements of a successful 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



11 



shot is the difficulty with which it can be guarded we can see 
that the underhand toss is really not a practical shot to be 
taught in scientific basket ball. Inexperienced players, as I 
have said before, and children will naturally use it, and for their 
use it is probably allowable, but where the game is to be played 
in a scientific manner, the player on the aggressive must take 





Start of Underhand Toss Finish of Underhand Toss 

all the advantage he can get of his guard in his throws for the 
goal, and this he cannot do by using the underhand toss shot. 

PLUGGING THE BANK. 

This fault is one which is very easily acquired and one which 

will sooner or later destroy the best man's eye for the basket; 

therefore, never get into the habit of plugging the hall at the 

backboards or banks. I have in mind several good players who 



12 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

practically ruined their shooting eye, for a time at least, simply 
by plugging the ball at the banks whenever they got a chance to 
shoot. It is also a fault which beginners very easily drop into 
clnd onfe which a coach or instructor must continually be on the 
lookout for and guard against. I should say from practical 
experience that a player should not attempt a bank shot unless 
directly underneath his basket or in such a position that he is 
absolutely sure of his angle. Men in the heat of the game and 
in practice forget that if they try to drop the ball through the 
rim on the loop and leave the bank alone that they have two 
chances of making the shot successful. The ball if it does not 
drop through the rim will in many cases bound back against the 
backboard and then into the basket, thus giving the shooter a 
chance of securing a goal both by means of the straight loop 
shot and by aid of the bank. The player who practices shooting 
for the basket and tries to loop the ball over its front rim will be 
surprised to find how many more goals he will make than when 
he plugs the ball at the backboard and trusts to luck (as he does 
in the majority of cases) for hitting the right spot on the board 
which will deflect the sphere through the basket. When he tries 
the latter he has two things to look out for, namely, the right spot 
on the backboard and the angle at which the ball will have to 
pass through the rim of the basket. In the case of the loop shot 
he has only to think of looping the ball over the front rim, with 
the additional advantage of having the backboard behind him 
as an aid should he loop the ball too far. From all positions, 
therefore, except within very short distances from the goal, I 
should say decidedly that the most successful goal thrower will 
be the one who will practice shooting for the basket and leave 
the bank to take care of itself. 

At this point I will say that it is often a good policy for a 
coach to rig up a regulation basket on the end of a pole at the 
proper distance from the floor and away from the wall. The 
players can thus practice shooting baskets without a bank. You 
will readily notice that the ones using the high loop shots are 
those securing the goals, and that those who have been in the 
habit of plugging the ball at the banks seldom secure a good 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 18 

count. When you observe this point, stop the practice and 
explain to them again the reason why the loop shots are more 
successful than the straight shots and before long you will have 
no difficulty in making your players shoot in this manner. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE LOOP SHOT. 
Heretofore I have been continually emphasizing the dropping 
of the ball through the basket instead of plugging the ball 





Start of Overhand Loop Shot Finish 

straight at it, or by using the bank, and naturally the question 
arises in your mind as to the best manner for accomplishing 
this. It is by means of what I have styled the "overhand loop 
shot" and the one conceded by experts to be the best way for 
shooting goals. 
In performing this shot the ball is thrown upward and for- 



14 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

ward close to the face of the thrower. The ball does not leave 
the hands until they are somewhere in the region of the face 
•or above it. In this manner the ball describes a loop as it 
passes through the air and thus enters the basket on an imaginary 
line drawn perpendicular to the diameter of the basket. It has, 
as stated before, the additional advantage of the bank behind the 
basket, if the shot is too long or if not quite straight. 

The best way in which to teach a player the proper use of 
this shot is first to have him shoot the ball straight up into the 
air above his head by passing the two hands containing the ball 
upward and forward close to the face. Do not have him pay any 
attention to the basket, but have him become accustomed to the 
feeling of the ball leaving his hands in this manner. Do not allow 
him to get into the habit of twisting the ball. Many a shot is 
spoiled in this manner. Players should try to avoid twisting the 
ball in any way. It will sooner or later spoil the shooter's eye 
for the basket, by causing him to form the habit of plugging the 
ball at the bank instead of loopmg it through the basket. 

Perhaps, as the ball leaves the hands of the beginner who is 
trying to acquire the loop shot, it will revolve slightly as it passes 
through the air. Do not be concerned at this, for it is only 
natural that such should be the case, especially when the sphere 
is thrown from the body with any great force. What I mean 
to emphasize in the above directions is not to give the ball a 
distinctive twist as it leaves the hands. A coach or instructor 
need not pay any great attention to this slight revolving of the 
ball, unless it causes the ball to take a different direction from 
that intended when it strikes the basket or backboard. If such is 
the case, take the player aside, place the ball lightly but firmly 
between the palms of his hands, the fingers serving as supports. 
Have him push the ball straight up over his head. Practice him 
in this movement for some time. Do not allow the men to get 
into the habit of pushing the sphere into the air a little stronger 
with one hand than with the other. Try to secure an even, clean 
raise from both hands straight into the air. If they will keep this 
point in mind they will not have any trouble with the ball going 
sideways as it leaves the hands. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. IB 

At first the players will, no doubt, shoot a little too high. This 
is a good fault and one which will remedy itself as the shooter 
becomes more expert. For beginners, however, it is just what is 
needed. Some men find that if they bend at the knees or jump 
slightly off of the floor when attempting this shot that they 
accomplish their end much more easily than they would other- 
wise. These, however, are all personal characteristics which may 
or may not be adopted by the beginner. Hov/ever, from my own 
experience, I have found that it is easiest for me to accompany 
my shot with a slight spring from the floor. This seems to add 
height to the loop of the shot without changing the direction in 
which the ball is traveling. 

Another caution for beginners at this point is, never to attempt 
long shots. Do not get half way down the floor and try to 
throw goals. If you attempt such a thing the immediate result 
will be poor shooting, caused either by plugging the bank or 
shooting the ball too straight at the basket. Instead, gather 
around the basket anywhere within a 15-foot circle and start your 
practice from this point If you observe the above suggestion you 
will be surprised at the rapidity with which you will acquire 
this art, and thus soon be able to shoot long distances. Always 
keep in mind the following suggestions : 

First — Loop the ball by allowing the hands to pass 
upward and forward close to the face. 

Second — No distinct twist of any kind to the ball. 

Third — Shoot the basket clean and do not pay any 
attention to the bank. 

After you have perfected yourself in the use of the over- 
hand loop, you must, if you wish to become an expert player, 
form the habit of shooting the ball the minute you secure it and 
not wait to adjust it in your hands. You must come to almost 
instinctively feel where the basket is. This sort of knowledge is 
the kind which counts when an opponent is fast bearing down 
on you and you do not have time to aim the ball at the basket 
but must shoot almost without looking. I do not mean by this 
that you should become a grand stand player and shoot without 



16 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

looking at the basket, but rather that in the time of necessity you 
can almost feel where the basket is. Many a goal is secured by 
expert players who shoot immediately upon receiving the ball 
from a team mate and thus before a guard can block them. In 
your haste to shoot the ball, however, do not forget to loop it, 
for in this instance the high loop shot is even more effective than 
at any other time. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. I-J 



SHOOTING FROM THE FOUL LINE 

When attempting a goal from the foul line, the shooter should 
always keep in mind the main point in the previous chapter, that 
of shooting high and looping the ball, and also in addition to 
this, that he has plenty of time in which to make the attempt 
and therefore should not hurry his shot. 

TWO WAYS OF LOOPING THE BALL. 

The looping of the ball may be accomplished either by use of 
the underhand toss or the overhand loop shot. The underhand 
toss, in case of foul shooting, is the shot most commonly used 
by both young and old players when attempting a goal from the 
foul line. When the opponents have a restraining line, such as 
the boundaries of the foul court, it is a very effective shot, 
provided the shooter remembers to toss the ball high enough sO 
as to have it drop into the basket. When using this shot, be 
sure that the ball is set evenly in the hands, that is, supported 
easily and lightly by the fingers of both hands, which hold the 
ball on opposite sides rather than underneath. 

With the sphere held thus and the feet spread slightly, bend the 
knees, in order to allow the hands holding the ball to pass be- 
tween them as they descend, preliminary to the upward lift of the 
ball. As the arms are raised, the knees are straightened and the 
ball is looped upward and forward toward the basket. Here 
again be sure not to twist the ball as it leaves the hand, as this 
is liable to spoil the shot. After the shooter has become accus- 
tomed to looping the ball, his next aim should be to try to become 
as accurate as possible, and constant practice is the only solution 
to this problem. 

The overhand loop shot, especially in the East, is quite com- 
monly used in shooting fouls, and by many players it is pre- 
ferred to the undei^iand toss, because it does not necessitate 
changing one's style of shooting from that employed in th<» 
scrimmage. It seems strange that a man who generally uses thi* 
overhand loop when shooting from the floor should change hi." 



18 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 19 

Style entirely when he comes to shooting fouls, but this is A\hat 
the majority of players do. The man who does this sooner 
or later makes a failure of one or both styles of shooting goals. 
Therefore, if a player who has scientifically mastered the use 
of the overhand loop shot from the floor will remember to apply 
just the same principles to shooting fouls, he will be surprised to 
note the success he will have in this department of his game. It 
is for this reason that the foremost leaders of the game today 
advocate sticking to one style of shooting and perfecting that one 
style as far as possible, instead of trying and usually failing 
in two or three styles. 

In using this shot from the foul line, some players have dif- 
ficulty in getting enough force into the shot to carry the ball 
up to the basket. They profess not to have strength enough. 
The trouble here again is, that they forget to try first to practice 
for height, and after that for accuracy. Accuracy in shooting will 
develop of itself and no great attention need be paid to it at 
first. If the goal thrower will keep in mind this primary prin- 
ciple, of shooting high and looping the ball by allowing the 
hands holding the ball to pass upward and forward close to the 
face, he will soon be able to shoot the required 15 feet with 
little or no difficulty. The proper way for a foul shooter to stand 
at the foul line when using this shot is with both feet spread com- 
fortably apart, say one or two feet. Just previously to the ball 
leaving the hands and when the elbows are close to the sides and 
the ball is opposite the chest the knees should bend slightly. They 
should straighten as the ball is pushed upward and forward. This 
bending of the knees assists greatly in the shooting, by giving 
p. little elasticity to the movement. Some players, on the other 
hand, will find it advantageous to keep both feet together, stand- 
ing on or back of the foul line when shooting; others will add 
a little hop, but whatever the individual peculiarity the essential 
fact to keep in mind is the looping of the ball. In the overhand 
loop, as in the underhand toss, a valuable point to keep con- 
stantly in mind is the position of the ball in the hands of the 
shooter. It should be practically supported on the palms, with 
the fingers lightly touching its sides. Be sure and see, first of all. 



20 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

that the ball is set evenly in the hands, so that the push upward 
and forward is made clean and smooth and not jerky. If this 
point is carefully watched, much of the crooked foul shooting 
and twisting of the ball as it leaves the hands will be done away 
with. 

DON'T HURRY YOUR SHOT. 

Last, but not least, a player must take plenty of time to make 
his try for goal. Do not get into the habit of running up to the 
foul line and letting the ball drive at the basket. Take your time, 
get the ball evenly set in your hands, support yourself properly 
on your feet, placed either together or somewhat apart, and then 
make your try. Remember, one point is better than none, and it 
may be that point which your team will need in order to win 
the game. So do not be careless, but take your time and make 
the shot count. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



CATCHING AND PASSING THE BALL 

Without doubt this department of the game is the one most 
neglected by both coaches and players alike. The result is that 
many a hard fought contest is lost when it might just as well 
have been turned into a victory had the player only known how 
to handle the ball, thus avoiding a fumble at a critical moment. 
Coaches must realize that before a man can learn how to success- 
fully shoot a goal he must know how to catch the ball when it 
comes to him. Many a golden opportunity at scoring has been 
lost by this lack of knowledge on the part of players. You can 
no doubt readily recall many instances when a player, if he had 
only caught the ball, could have easily shot a goal and perhaps 
have placed his team on the winning side. 

This fumbling at critical moments is without doubt due to two 
causes; first, nervousness, as observed in young players, which 
should gradually disappear as the men become more proficient at 
the game; and, second, lack of knowledge as to the proper man- 
ner of catching the ball when it is passed to them. The former 
difficulty, that of nervousness and fear, is one which the player 
must himself overcome. Self confidence comes with proficiency 
and practice only makes perfect. Of course a coach can instill 
confidence into his men, but he can not remove fear from the in- 
dividual player. The player must do this himself and the best 
manner for him to accomplish this is to practice catching the ball 
both on the side lines and in action. He will thus learn to act 
automatically and reflexly and will not need to think how he 
must hold his hands or how he must draw the ball in to his 
body, etc., when it comes to him in a game. When he has 
acquired the art of catching and passing the ball, the fear of 
making a fumble will soon leave him. One point, however, might 
be mentioned at this time which should prove valuable to coaches. 
Never place your men under an unnecessary tension by threaten- 
ing them with removal from the game, or even greater penalties, 
should they fumble or miss a goal. When a coach does this, he 



22 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

usually works his players into such a nervous state that they can- 
not avoid either fumbling when the ball comes to them, or 
mising a goal when they have an easy chance to score. Try to 
instill confidence into your men, for if they have confidence in 
themselves and in your sincerity they will be able to make a 
much better showing than they would if you are continually nag- 
ging and threatening them. 

The second main cause for fumbling, as previously stated, is 
due to ignorance on the part of players as to the proper method of 
catching and passing the ball. The best way for a coach to 
instruct his men in this department of the game is to have them 
spread out on the floor, preferably in a large circle, and pass 
the ball from one to the other. In catching the ball they should 
allow the hands to give slightly as the ball strikes them. The 
same holds true here as in base ball. Observe the hands of an 
expert ball player when he catches the ball. You will see the 
hands give slightly the moment the ball strikes them. The same 
should be true in the act of catching a basket ball, and should 
be practiced by beginners and others, with whom fumbling is 
decidedly prevalent. The act of allowing the hands to give 
slightly when the ball is caught greatly diminishes the shock 
caused by impact of the ball with the hands and the liability of a 
fumble due to the quick rebounding of the ball from a rigid 
surface. Many a fumble is caused by a player making his hands 
and arms rigid, so that when the ball strikes the open hands there 
is little elasticity and the ball immediately rebounds. 

Another frequent cause for fumbling is the position of the 
hands when the ball is caught. They should practically be in a 
sort of funnel-shaped position with the fingers spread. Never 
try to catch the ball in the fingers. Let it strike the palms and 
use the fingers as supports to hold the ball in contact with the 
palms. The ball as it strikes the hollow of the hand is held there 
by a slight suction together with the fingers, and if this process 
is observed much of the fumbling in the gam-e of today will 
be done away with. 

It is bad policy to hold the hands so that the fingers point 
toward the ball as it is coming in. If the judgment and vision of 



SPALDING'S AtHLEtiC LiftRARlf. 



23 



the catcher does not happen to be absolutely accurate a broken or 
dislocated finger may be the result. It is decidedly better to have 
the hand held with the fingers slanting downward or upward 
from the palms, so that when the ball strikes the palms the fingers 
can close around the sphere and hold it in place. 

After giving your men the above instructions, allow them to 
pass the ball around the circle for as long a time as you think 





Position of Hands in Catching 



The Underhand Pass 



necessary. Also allow the men to move around on the floor, 
passing the ball as they move. It is not unusual that there should 
be some player especially anxious to make the team, or a little 
farther advanced in the art of the game than the rest, who per- 
sists in plugging the ball at his team mates. When such is the 
case stop the practice and explain the art of passing the ball in the 
following manner : 



24 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

First, remember that in order for a successful pass, the ball 
must come to a player in such a manner that it is easy for him to 
catch it. This certainly is not the case when the ball is thrown 
with full force. Get into the habit of passing the ball with only 
moderate swiftness. Exceptions may, of course, arise in the 
game, as when a player is free at the other end of the ball and 
you wish to get the ball to him in all possible haste. 

Now, as to passing the ball, several styles are used. The low, 
underhand pass, especially for short, swift passes, is without 
doubt the most efifective. When using this style, the passer 
should endeavor to throw the ball directly into the pit of his 
colleague's stomach. This is the place where this sort of a pass 
can be easily handled, and, therefore, all players using this style 
of passing, should try accurately to place the ball there. The ball 
is generally thrown from one hand, but sometimes both are 
used. This style of passing is especially effective in working 
floor formations, but as this is described in a later chapter we 
shall leave it for the present. 

The overhand pass is the most effective to use when greater 
distances must be covered. Speed and accuracy are its charac- 
teristics. The ball must get to your team mate, who is at some 
distance from you, in the shortest possible time. Taking for 
granted that he is able to catch the ball, the only possible way to 
accomplish this is by driving it at him. When passing the ball in 
this manner it should travel above the heads and out of reach 
of all players except the one for which it is intended and should 
be thrown as straight as possible at the intended catcher. One 
great tendency on the part of players using this pass is to throw 
the ball so high that even the intended catcher cannot reach it, 
with the result that it goes out of bounds and is given to a player 
on the opposite side. If you should find that this is true in your 
case or with your men just try to loop the ball in such a manner 
that it will pass over the heads of the rest of the players on the 
floor and drop into the catcher's hands on the other side. Some- 
times it is absolutely necessary for a man to use this overhead 
drive. However, a player must know when to discriminate and 
the only way he can learn this point is by practical experience 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBKAHY. 



is 




Pushing the Ball from the Shoulders 



26 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LlSRARlT. 

in the game. Get your men accustomed to throwing the ball in 
this manner the entire length of the gymnasium, by causing half 
of them to stand at each end of the hall while passing and catch- 
ing. Guards especially should be proficient in the use of both of 
these passes and quick to decide which one is advisable. It 
often happens that a forward will escape from his opponent long 
enough to receive such a pass and score a goal, providing he 
has a guard on the team who can get the ball to him in the 
quickest possible manner. 

I know of one team composed of tall players who used this 
style, even in making their short passes, to perfection and were 
thus continually able to keep the ball away from their opponents 
simply by making their passes above the heads of the players 
on the opposing team. In using this style of passing, either one 
or both hands may be used. Generally, for the long swift 
drive or the loop throw, only one hand is used, while for the 
short passes above the heads of the opposing players the two 
hands are used. 

The next most common style of passing is pushing the ball 
from the height of the shoulders. This pass may be classed as 
a part of the underhand toss and is extremely effective in situa- 
tions where a player must immediately get rid of the ball. 

There are also many other styles of passes which can be used 
to good advantage, but most of these can be classed under some 
one of the previously named classes and are the result of long 
and experienced playing. These will be readily acquired as the 
players advance in skill. 

There are several points which players should always remem- 
ber whenever using any style of pass, and these are as follows: 

First, if your team mate is on the run, always pass the ball 
slightly in advance of him, so that he will not be compelled to 
stop in order to catch it. 

Second, never, especially in case of the underhand pass or push 
from the shoulders, fling the ball at your team mate too hard. 
Remember, he is under a strain and the more you can help him, 
the less fumbling he will do. 

Third, never throw the ball at the face of a team mate. It is 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 27 

especially hard for anyone to catch a ball coming swiftly toward 
his face. The reflex movements of the head in order to avoid the 
ball necessitates the taking of the eyes off the sphere and thus 
greatly increases the liability to fumble. Any player, unless old 
and experienced at basket ball, when seeing a ball coming at him 
in this manner will unconsciously turn his head and throw up his 
hands to shield his face, thus having little chance of making 
a clean catch. In fact, never get into the habit of making any 
pass which is difficult for your team mates to handle. 

Fourth, acquire accuracy. Practice till you can almost feel 
where your companion is. Do not throw the ball behind him, too 
far in front of him. or to the side of him, but instead directly 
to the place where he can most easily handle it. Remember he 
cannot handle the sphere accurately unles he receives a good 
pass from you and you cannot give him a good pass unless you 
are accurate. 

Fifth, practice till you can pass the ball from any position. 
Many players have lost golden opportunities by not passing the 
ball immediately upon catching it. Do not get into the habit 
of adjusting the sphere in your hands or pulling it into your chest 
before throwing it to your team mates. Remember, all such time 
is wasted, and only gives your opponent time to cover and block 
you. Fast, accurate passing wins many a game and is the key 
to successful team work. 

It will take a good deal of practice to develop a team which 
can pass properly and without hesitancy, but remember that a 
team composed of good passers, who are only moderate goal 
tossers, is equal to, if not better than, a team of expert goal 
tossers but poor passers. If, on the other hand, you can com- 
bine the two you have a combination which will be hard to beat. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



THE SELECTION OF FORWARDS, CENTERS 
AND GUARDS 

In taking up this department of the game, the reader must 
remember that it is absolutely impossible for me to set down a 
list of characteristics which a player must possess before he can 
become a successful forward, center or guard. Some players no 
doubt will unconsciously possess several very good characteristics 
which in themselves would make them good players, if these 
were only properly trained and developed. It is the duty of the 
coach to recognize this characteristic as soon as possible and 
place the player in that particular group trying for that position, 
for which he seems best fitted. It often happens at some later 
practice that the player will exhibit characteristics which have 
heretofore remained unobserved and which will eventually make 
him a more valuable man in some other position. If such should 
ever be the case, do not hesitate to change the man over to the 
group practicing for the position for which he seems best fitted. 
It is only by the closest observation on the part of the coaches 
and the use of this method of interchange of positions that a 
man can be developed into the best player. 

For the first few practices it is generally advisable to allow 
all the men to practice passing without reference to position, 
catching and shooting the ball in turn. Soon, however, the char- 
acteristics spoken of above and farther discussed later will begin 
to show themselves. As soon as this is the case, separate the 
men into forward, center or guard groups and proceed to instruct 
each group in its own peculiar work. 

In taking up the important and essential characteristics of the 
different groups, I will consider first those of the forwardSf 
second those of the guards, and third those of the centers. 

FORWARD. 
Agility and alertness are two of the fundamental and prin- 
cipal characteristics of a forward. I place these characteristics 
even before that of basket throwing, for I believe the ability to 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 29 

jhoot goals can be cultivated, but the ability to move around 
quickly and perceive accurately are largely native gifts. These 
qualities are very noticeable when it becomes necessary to lose 
his guard, in order to work out formations. Should he happen to 
possess along with the above qualities a natural ability to shoot 
goals, you have a man well suited to fill the position of a for- 
ward. Some time ago it was thought that height was one of 
the main requisites for a forward, but during the past few years 
many small, speedy men have been playing the forward position 
very acceptably, so that this idea no longer prevails. Of course 
height is a great help to a forward, but agility is at least -equally 
important in scoring goals. Then again, it must not be under- 
stood that a man simply has to possess speed in order to become 
a good forward. All men aspiring to become good forwards must 
possess some ability to shoot goals, otherwise they would be 
utterly useless in this capacity. But, as I have stated above, if 
they possess the fundamentals of this position, they can readily 
become proficient shots by carefully studying and practicing the 
details of the chapter under the heading "The Technique of 
Basket Shooting." 

A forward's ability to co-operate with the othet /nembers of 
the team is also another very valuable characteristic which cannot 
be over emphasized. Nowhere on a team can a man do more to 
break up team work by grand stand playing than in a forward's 
position. He should not think that he is the only man on the 
team or that he alone can score. If another man is free and 
closer to the basket than he is, he must be willing to sacrifice his 
own chances of scoring and pass the ball to his team-mate. This 
type of game is the one which wins out, and neither the spectators 
nor the men on the team have very much love for the grand 
stand forward. Ability to dodge an opponent is another of the 
main characteristics of a forward and one which should be 
watched for and carefully trained. The danger is that it will 
lead the player into taking shots when he should pass to a team 
mate who is in a much better position to score. 

Besides the above, a forward must be able to ^uard fairly 
well. He will in time no doubt run up against a guard who can 



30 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

both shoot and guard and a forward must be prepared to break 
up this offensive work when the guard attempts it. For this 
reason, it is sometimes fortunate if the forwards have a little 
weight and height, although I would not place these character- 
istics before agility and alertness. But if a coach should hap- 
pen to find a man with both, he should have no hesitancy in 
placing him in the proper group for practice. 

A forward must also become so accustomed to being closely 
guarded that he can hold his temper under all conditions, 
and shoot goals from any position in which he happens to 
receive the ball. He must be able to locate the basket almost 
unconsciously from any point, as well as be able to drop the 
sphere through the net whenever the opportunity presents itself. 
He must handle the ball in a clean manner and not fumble at 
critical moments. He must also be able to go down the floor, 
if need be, and start a combination. In fact, he must be on the 
alert all the time, and the man who goes to sleep and simply 
allows his man to guard him had better not try for a forward's 
position. 

GUARD. 

The spirit of self-sacrifice and the ability to receive hard 
knocks without a murmur are two very important characteristics 
which a man must make up his mind to possess if he is going 
to develop into a good guard. No other position on the team 
is so difficult to fill nor so unsatisfactory to play. A guard very 
seldom receives any praise for his work, even though he may 
keep his opponents from scoring a single point. This ability to 
guard an opponent is without doubt the main characteristic of 
a good guard. He must be fast enough to get around his 
forward and not let the latter avoid him when working a 
formation. A guard must be just as speedy on his feet as a 
forward and should continually keep his eyes open for any 
tricks between the center and the forward when he is guarding. 
If he can do this by securing the ball, well and good, but if he 
is not fast enough to do this, he must be fast enough to keep 
his forward from dodging him and thus completing a forma- 
tion or shooting a goal. Guarding is one of the main duties of 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 31 

a guard, but ability both to catch and pass the ball down the 
floor and to work with his team mates in combinations, etc., are 
characteristics almost as important. There is no room in a 
guard position for a grand stand player any more than in a 
forward, and one who can not play with the rest of the players 
on the team might as well not try for this position. 

From my observation of players, I have found that there are 
two types of guards ; first, the running and shooting guard, and 
second, the defense guard. It would seem that the ideal player 
in this position would be one who could do each kind of work. 
The first style, the running and shooting back, especially in the 
position style of game, is one of the most valuable men on the 
team. Besides being a fine guard he must have the ability to 
cover a very large floor surface as well as the ability to shoot 
goals. This type of player is exceedingly valuable to the team, 
since it is usually his duty to start a large majority of the 
combinations for carrying the ball up the floor to his forwards. 
The other style of a back, that of the defense guard, Is the one 
usually seen, who simply holds his position on the floor and 
guards his man or any player who may come near his goal. 
He is, without doubt, one of the most valuable men on the team 
and the one who is liable to suffer the severest penalties for 
close guarding and rough playing. He must manifest a generous 
spirit, sacrificing his own interests wholly for that of his team. 
If he possesses the ability to shoot goals from a distance, his 
usefulness will be greatly increased. Weight is a good charac- 
teristic for a guard, as it enables him to stand the hard knocks 
which are sure to come to him. Height, also, if combined with 
the other characteristics, is a good quality and one which gives 
a great advantage, especially if playing a running guard. 

CENTER. 
The man who should be chosen for a center must have all 
the speed of a forward, the guarding abilities of a back, ability 
to score baskets and, in addition, height. Of course, I am 
speaking of an ideal center. He must be a man of cool head, 
with the ability to size up conditions and act quickly. He must 



82 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

also be able to give signals and tap the ball correctly, so that 
his combinations will take all possible advantage of the weak 
points of the opponents. In fact, he must be about the best all 
round man on the team. He must be exceedingly fast on his 
feet, so as to take proper advantage of his height, and this should 
enable him to be one of the principal point gainers on the 
team. Here again he must be a man who is entirely devoted 
to team play, tapping, passing or shooting, as may be neces- 
sary to secure the goal. This position is not an easy one to 
fill and coaches should be particularly careful in choosing the 
man for it. If the proper man is secured at the beginning of 
the season the team will no doubt be successful, but if a mistake 
is made, it will be exceedingly hard to adjust matters after 
playing has begun. Like a guard, a center must be a man 
who can stand hard knocks and not lose his temper. His posi- 
tion is one of the greatest importance to a team and very often 
unfair means are taken to prevent him from starting combina- 
tions and scoring goals. He must be ready to accept these con- 
ditions when they come, and yet remain cool, for his accuracy 
will determine the effectiveness of most of the combinations 
started from the center position. 



Some candidate may decide after reading this attempt to 
describe the necessary qualities for a forward, center and guard, 
that it is useles for him to try. Such a man must remember 
that many of these characteristics are gained only after years 
of effort. The race is not always to those by nature swift. 
Hard work on your part may so develop those somewhat imper- 
fect qualities that you will be surprised at the progress you 
make. No player makes permanent progress when depending 
upon native ability. Practice makes perfect, for a man is only 
one-fifth of the team, and it is the team which must win. Such 
practice fits one to live as well as to play. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



TEAM WORK AND FORMATIONS FROM 
THE CENTER 

The first fact to remember, if you are going to round out 
a successful team, is that there must be absolute harmony among 
the players and that they must play together at all times and be 
willing to sacrifice their own chances of scoring a goal if need 
Iw in order to allow another member of their team to score, 
provided he has a better chance. Team work must be the motto 
from the start. In no other sport can a grand stand player 
prove so detrimental to a team as in basket ball, and in no 
sport does he become more disliked. In a team which consists 
of five men, a few have no possible chance of making a suc- 
cessful record and the best thing it can do Is either to get rid 
of these men at once or let them know that unless they co-operate 
with the other members of the quintet they will have to be 
sacrificed for the good of the team. 

A grand stand player is likely to be successful in some of his 
shots, but in the majority of cases he deprives one of his 
team mates of a far surer opportunity to score from a point 
much nearer the goal. In the illustrated formations which 
follow, you will observe how each formation brings the ball up 
':o within a short distance of the goal and thus greatly increases 
the chance for a successful shot. However, this must not be 
understood as discouraging long shots. Whenever a player is in 
his section of the playing surface and there is no one of his 
team mates free or there is no possibility of anyone of them 
becoming free, I advocate absolutely the taking of a long shot, 
for the player in possession of the ball has both a chance to 
score a goal without breaking up team work, besides advancing 
the sphere farther down the floor into the region of his own 
goal, where, should he fail in his attempt, one of his team mates 
has a chance to recover the ball on the rebound and attempt a 
basket. But in all things keep the fundamental fact in mind, 
that team work wins. 



34 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

^'Versatility of attack is a basket ball asset," says Dr. James 
Naismith, the originator of the game. A team which has 
simply one or two plays cannot begin to cope with an opponent 
which has nine or ten such formations and which can spring 
a new one at any moment. The basket ball season is generally 
too long for a team to go through it successfully unless it has 
a series of plays which will give it a decided advantage in 
scoring points, besides surprising its opponents and putting 
them constantly on the defensive. It is not necessary to load the 
players up with a lot of half-learned combinations in order 
to accomplish this end. Plays may be switched about, the start 
being the same in many instances, but the finish bewilderingly 
dififerent from other formations, thus aiding in confusing your 
opponents. No team can afford to be without a repertoire 
of well-learned formations, drilled by hard, early season prac- 
tice into its guards, forwards and center. When a team without 
such formations are pitted against a trained squad, no matter 
what individual stars the former may possess, the team work 
of the latter is most likely to win. Each man of a trained team 
knows where he is to toss the ball the minute he gets it and 
his team mates know just where to receive the pass, thus 
losing no time or effort. 

Remember, you are not to care who scores the goals for your 
team so long as you secure them. Do not form the habit of 
thinking during a game as to which of your team mates is 
doing the scoring. The work is done for a common cause and 
the guard who is up to date with accurate passes, while defend- 
ing his own team against the scoring efforts of his opponents, is 
entitled to as much credit, if not more, than the basket-throwing 
forward with a long string of goals to his credit. The same 
holds true with the center, who starts the successful formation 
by getting the jump on his opponent. The plaudits of an admir- 
ing gallery are music to the athlete's ear, but team work should 
never be sacrificed for grand stand play. 

In the list of formations which follow I have tried to present 
a few samples of those which I have tried out with teams and 
which I know can be worked with good results. I would not 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 85 

advocate that a team should master all of these formations, but 
simply those which it thinks it can use to advantage. One 
caution must be remembered, however, never try and master the 
most difficult ones first. Take the simple, straight forward 
and center plays first. Get two or three of these to perfection, 
then add a few of the harder ones. I have endeavored to 
arrange the plays in the order of difficulty, the simpler ones 
coming first, the more difficult ones following, and it would be 
well if they were learned in this order. Better results will be 
achieved if the team chooses several plays and endeavors to 
master them one at a time, than if it attacks the entire list at 
the start. Then, again, think up new combinations fOr yourself. 
There is an unlimited list which may be worked up to good 
advantage and which are not given here, as it would be impos- 
sible for any one to write down all the possible combinations. 
Then, too, it would be more confusing than helpful. 

In explaining the following formations, for the sake of 
brevity I will simply describe the way in which the plays work 
out on the right hand side of the floor, as illustrated in the 
sketch. The reader can thus readily see by the accompanying 
diagram that they can be worked out equally well on the oppo- 
site side of the floor. In working out these formations, it is 
never a good policy to run off too many similar plays in suc- 
cesion, where the center delivers the ball to any one forward or 
guard. If this is done, you will find that the players on the 
opposite team are liable to guard these men so closely that your 
formations are in danger of being broken up. You will have 
much better success if you can mix them up, so that the ball is 
delivered first to a forward, then to a guard, etc. 

The following directions hold true for all formations illus- 
trated herein: 

r- ~ TT~Z Center No.l 

Direction of ball. 

Left Forward No. 2 

Right Forward. . .No. 8 

Direction of player to receive ball. ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^ 

Right Guard No, • 

Direction of player to cover position. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



STRAIGHT CENTER i^'ORWARD. 

This play is an example of how a single pass may be 
turned into a successful and puzzling formation, providing the 
forwards know how to deceive their guards. The forward who 
is to receive the ball from the center must start as if to 
sprint down the floor and near the side line and after going 
several steps, circle quickly inward so as to be close to the 
basket in time to receive the sphere as it is passed to him by 
the center. 

Center (No. i) taps the ball to right forward (No. 3), who, 
after circling, makes a trial at goal. Left forward (No. 2), on 
the other side, runs up in the same manner as right forward 
(No. 3), circles and takes up his position on the opposite side 
of the goal to right forward (No. 3). Center (No. i), after 
tapping the ball to right forward (No. 3), takes up his position 
in front of the goal, where he can take a try at the goal, 
should either Nos. 3 or 2 miss in their attempts. The guards 
in this play simply stand ready down th: floor to pass the ball 
back to one of their forwards or center should the ball come 
their way. 

This style of play can be made very effective, indeed, if the 
forwards and center are fully awake, but it is useless if the 
forwards are asleep and cannot avoid their guards. Forwards 
find it much easier to avoid their guards if In any way they 
can get the guards to play them on the outside of the court 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRAEY. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 39 



STRAIGHT DOUBLE FORWARD. 

Center (No. i) taps the ball to left forward (No. 2), who 
advances to the position indicated in the diagram the instant 
the ball is thrown into the air. Right forward (No. 3) at the 
same time takes up the position left vacant by left forward 
(No. 2). As soon as left forward (No. 2) gets the ball from 
center (No. i) he passes it back to right forward (No. 3), 
who tries for goal, providing he is not blocked. Should he be 
covered, he passes the ball to center (No. i), who has by this 
time reached a position on the opposite side of the floor from 
right forward (No. 3). Left forward (No. 2), as soon as 
possible after passing the ball to right forward (No. 3), takes 
up his position directly in front of the basket and is ready to 
try for a goal, if either right forward (No. 3) or center (No. 
i) should miss. Here we have a shooting triangle composed 
of Nos. 3, I and 2, which is an exceedingly hard combination 
for any set of guards to break up, providing the play is run 
off with a dash. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



STRAIGHT FORWARD CENTER. 

This play can be made very effective if used either after a 
forward or guard play has been worked. It requires exceed- 
ingly fast work on the part of the center, but can be worked 
with great success. If he can be depended upon, right forward 
(No. 3), when passing the ball to the center going down the 
floor, must remember to pass the ball slightly in front of him 
(the center), in order that he (the center) may not need to 
stop to catch the ball, but can make his try" for goal while on 
the run. 

Center (No. i) taps the ball to right forward (No. 3), who 
comes up the floor on the run to receive the pass and who in 
turn returns it to center (No. i) as he goes down the floor 
toward his own goal, from which position he attempts a goal. 
Left forward (No. 2), on the other side, aids in the play by 
running down the floor, as shown in the diagram, circling 
quickly and returning to the left side of the basket, from which 
position he can take a shot at the goal, should the center (No. 
i) by any means happen to fail. Right forward (No. 3), 
after passing the ball to the center, who is going down the 
floor, darts for a position directly in front of the basket and 
thus makes the third unit in the triangular shooting formation, 
which is almost a sure point gainer. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



FORWARD CROSS CENTER. 
This formation requires an exceedingly fast center man in 
order to be successful, but when worked correctly is almost a 
sure point gainer. Cenf.er (No. i) taps the ball to left forward 
(No. 2), who in turn lobs it over to center (No. i) again, who 
has dodged his man and run up the floor to a place of advan- 
tage under his own basket, as shown by the diagram. From this 
position he tries for a goal. The minute left forward (No.^ 2) 
dashes up the floor to receive the tap from center (No. i), right 
forward (No. 3) crosses over and takes the position left vacant 
by left forward (No. 2). Left forward (No. 2), after lobbing 
the ball to center (No. i). dashes down the floor and takes up 
his place in front of the goal, thereby completing the trian- 
gular shooting formation. Center (No. i), if blocked, so that 
he cannot try for a goal, can thus pass to either right forward 
(No. 3) or to left forward (No. 2), who can then shoot. Speed 
and accuracy in passing are the great essentials of this play. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRA«-5. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



STRAIGHT GUARD FORWARD. 

This play is one often used and can be made very effective, 
providing the forwards are able to lose their guards long 
enough to receive the ball from the center and try for a goal. 
The guard who comes up the floor to receive the ball from the 
center must remember, however, that immediately after making 
the pass to left forward (No. 2) he must, even without looking 
to see if the play has ben successful, dart back and cover his 
man. 

Center (No. i) taps to right guard (No, 5), who comes up 
the floor to receive the pass and who in turn drives the ball to 
right forward (No. 3), who receives the ball after losing his 
guard and makes a try for a goal. Right guard (No. 5) con- 
tinues on up the floor to a position in front of the goal, where 
he can try for a shot should right forward (No. 3) by any 
chance miss it. Left forward (No. 2), immediately upon the 
toss-up, in an attempt to lose his guard, makes a feint to go 
down the floor, but turns after taking several steps as shown, 
and darts for the basket on the left side of the court and thus 
completes the triangular shooting formation again. If right 
guard (No. 5) is found to be too slow in getting back to his man 
after receiving the tap from center (No. i) and passing to right 
forward (No. 3), it would be a good plan to have him con- 
tinue on up the floor in center's (No. i) place. Center (No. i) 
in turn then will fall back to guard right guard's (No. 5) man. 
Right guard (No. 5) thus takes up his place in front of the 
goal, where center (No. i) would otherwise be. No. 5 must, 
however, also keep a sharp lookout on the opposing team's 
center man whom he is to guard until he can exchange places 
again with his own center (No. i). This latter change is a 
decidedly fast play and a good one, providing the center and 
guard know what to do, and do it. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 




SPALDING'S ATHL3TIC LIBRARY. 



GUARD FORWARD CRISS-CROSS. 

Great care must be taken in using too many of this sort o£ 
plays, as it necessitates the guard going up the floor to receive 
the ball on the backward tap, leaving his forward practically 
free. Should the opposing center manage to get the tap it would 
give the free forward an easy chance to score a goal. Should 
this happen, as it is very likely to, the guard who has gone up 
the floor after the ball must follow the ball immediately and 
spoil if possible any chance which the free forward may have 
of shooting a basket. The different plays starting in this man- 
ner, however, if correctly worked, can be made extremely effec- 
tive, especially after several formations have been worked which 
require the ball being tapped forward. 

Center (No. i) taps the ball to right guard (No. 5), who 
comes up the floor on the run to receive the ball. He in turn 
passes it to left forward (No. 2), who crossed over with right 
forward (No. 3) when the ball was tossed up. Center (No. i), 
after tapping the ball back, sprints to a position in front of the 
goal, thus completing again the triangular shooting formation 
and thus giving right forward (No. 3) and center (No. i) a 
chance to try for a goal if left forward (No. 2) should fail in 
his attempt. This formation will require some very fast work 
on the part of the forwards, who may even have to make their 
try at goal by using the overhead toss. But when they get so 
they can almost feel where the basket is, it is a very effective 
formation. Right guard (No. 5), after passing the ball to left 
forward (No. 2), must be sure and sprint back and take up his 
original guard positon, as shown in the diagram. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 




SPALDING'S ATHI^TIC LIBRARY. 



GUARD CROSS CENTER. 

This formation is really only another part of the criss-cross 
forward formation, although it has several points which make 
it of great value, providing you have a center who is fast enough 
to tap the ball back to right guard (No. 5) and receive it again 
over his shoulder while on the run from right guard (No. 5). 
If right guard (No. 5), in making the pass to center (No. i), 
will lob the ball slightly, the effectiveness of the play will be 
greatly increased. 

Center (No. i) taps the ball back to right guard (No. 5), 
who advances to receive it, after which he immediately lobs ii: 
back to center (No. i) going down the floor, who makes a try 
at goal. The amount of ground which the center will be able to 
cover and the closeness with which he is able to get to his 
basket depends entirely upon himself, and for this reason a 
center man, in order to make this play effective, must be 
decidedly fast on his feet. Left forward (No. 2) crosses over 
out of center's (No. i) way to the other side of the goal, where 
he can attempt a goal should center (No. i) miss, while right 
guard (No. 5) continues on up the floor after delivering the 
ball to center (No. i) to a place of advantage in front of the 
goal, thus again completing the triangular shooting formation. 
Right forward (No. 3), as soon as the ball is tapped to left 
guard (No. 4), sprints down the floor on the outside of the 
court to take up the position left open by right guard (No. 5). 



60 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



FORWARD CROSS GUARD.. 

This play depends largely upon the ability of right guard (No. 
S) to deceive his forward so that he will not follow him up the 
floor. Right guard (No. 5) should be careful and not give the 
play away by starting up the floor too soon, but when he does 
go up, he should run in a sort of a curved fashion, as shown, 
along outside of the floor and not shoot in toward the basket 
until well down the floor. By doing this he both deceives his 
forward and is able to get down the floor quicker, besides giving 
right forward (No. 3), who circles inward, a chance to get 
down the floor and thus cover the position left open by right 
guard (No. 5). 

Center (No. i) taps the ball to left forward (No. 2), who has 
come up in the usual fashion to receive the ball and who in 
turn lobs it over to right guard (No. 5) coming down the floor 
for a try at goal. Center (No. i), after tapping the ball to left 
forward (No. 2), sprints for a position on the opposite side of 
the goal from right guard (No. 5), while left forward (No. 2), 
after passing to right guard (No. 5), takes up his place in 
front of the goal, thus again completing the triangular forma- 
tion and giving Nos. i and 2 a chance to score should right 
guard (No. 5) fail in his attempt. Right forward (No. 3), of 
course, as stated before, must instantly cover the position left 
open by right guard (No. 5) going down the floor. This play can 
be made most effective if worked correctly. It is both simple to 
the team working it and complex to the team against which it is 
worked, for an opposing team generally gets more or less con- 
fused when they find a guard going up the floor and scoring 
successfully. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 





spaijDing's athletic library. ca 



FORWARD STRAIGHT GUARD. 

Center (No. i) taps ball to left forward (No. 2), who comes 
up in the usual way to. receive it, after which he passes it to 
left guard (No. 4), who has by this time reached a position 
close to the goal, where he takes his shot. Center (No. i), after 
tapping the ball to left forward (No. 2), sprints for a place on 
the opposite side of the basket from left guard (No. 4), who 
has come down the floor, while right forward (No. 3), after 
making a short fake at sprinting down the floor, circles and 
takes up his place in front of the goal, thus again finishing out 
the triangular shooting formation and giving Nos. i and 3 a 
chance to score should left guard (No. 4) fail in his attempt. 
One important fact which must be observed in the working of 
this combination, if it is to be successful, is that left forward 
(No. 2), after passing the ball to left guard (No. 4), must con- 
tinue en down the floor and occupy the guard position left vacant 
by left guard (No. 4). If left forward (No. 2) fails to do this 
and a goal is not scored by one of the shooting triangle, the 
chances are that No. 4's man, who has been left free by going up 
the floor, will receive the ball on ,'>, pass from one of his guards 
and score a goal. 



64 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 66 



FORWARD GUARD CROSS GUARD. 

This play is known as the double guard shift and can be made 
extremely effective if the forwards will keep in their mind the 
fact that they must cover the positions left vacant by the 
guards who have gone up the floor. 

Center (No. i) taps the ball to left forward (No. 2), who runs 
up to receive it; left forward (No. 2) immediately passes it 
backward to left guard (No. 4), who has come down the floor, 
and who in turn passes it across to right guard (No. 5), who has 
also come down the floor on the opposite side of the court. 
Immediately upon the toss-up, right forward (No. 3) shoots 
down the floor to cover the place left open by right guard (No. 
5) going up the floor. Left forward (No. 2), after passing the 
ball to left guard (No. 4), covers the latter's position, while 
center (No. i) takes up his place on the opposite side of the 
basket from right guard (No. 5), where he can make a try for 
a goal if right guard (No. 5) misses. After left guard (No. 4) 
passes the ball to right guard (No. 5) he takes up his position in 
front of the basket, and thus we have again the timeworn tri- 
angular shooting combination, which, if worked correctly, is 
almost a sure point gainer. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARy. 



TRAINING A TEAM 

The training of a successful team in basket ball, as in other 
sports, depends equally upon coach and team. The coach must 
know his men and have confidence in them. His treatment of 
the various players must be open and square, never revealing 
either favoritism or spite. A player's success depends so much 
upon his mental attitude and temper, that the coach must see to 
it that no criticism passes his lips during the playing period, 
but only words of warmest encouragement. 

The physical condition of the players is likewise a very impor- 
tant matter. The coach ought to be an expert in matters of 
personal hygiene, diet and exercise, so that he may advise the 
men concerning their personal habits and training. Ever>' game 
has its own requirements, and many a game is lost because 
endurance fails and a man becomes useless. 

The players must also have confidence in the coach. This alone 
will instill that never-give-up spirit into a team, even in the 
face of probable defeat. Nothing so destroys co-ordination, both 
in passing and in trying for goals, as anger or a feeling of dis- 
couragement. Confidence begets confidence, and no coach can 
hope to enjoy what he fails to give. But many a game is pulled 
out in the last few minutes of play by simply plugging away, 
when it seemed as if nothing but defeat could be the result. 
Therefore, a coach must win the men's confidence by letting 
them see that he has confidence in them, and that his only motive 
is to put the fastest possible team on the floor. Then watch them 
closely and inspire in them that never-die quality which is so 
characteristic of American sport. 

Team work is also an absolutely essential factor in this 
training process. This involves harmony of feeling as well as 
co-operation in action. 

There should always be the warmest of feeling between the 
coach and all members on the team. Remember, a successful 
team cannot be turned out if there is the least bit of feeling 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBBAM. " 

among the various members as to who does the shooting. It 
Zuld be absolutely immaterial who scores the goals so long as 
your team secures them, and if you work with this sp.nt, success 

TLroroTcottis one of the great factors which con 
tributes towards a team's success. Men can never expect to 
Play basket ball if they keep late hours, smoke, drmk or dissipate 
f„ any other manner. Sleep is an essential factor m roundnig 
m«=n into proper condition. Unless men have enough sleep to 
make up for Sie energy which they have expended, they cannot 
^expected to be in plying form. I have known several j^ayers 
who have s^^oked and drank, but they never reached the heigh^ 
Tf success which they would in all probability have reached had 
they not so indulged. All these habits injure the ' wmd and 
wind is one of the prime requisites of a successful basket ball 
Xver It is not a question any more as to whether a man an 
Ste and still phy his best gam. It - f'^'^^Zs 
that he must either sacrifice basket ball or these habits. 

Now "t us consider how "wind" can most readily be acquired. 
In thl first place "wind" acquired by long distance running is 
not tsket ba'u wind. I have heard of a coach who had his mn 
run a mile or more every practice night m order to work up 
their w™d The result was that he had good track men bu 
* r basket ball players, because the work o"*e basket baU 
court with its quick starting and stoppmg, requires entirely 
dtffr'enT co-ordination from the long stride of distance running 
a^ thi for the reason that it brings many more groups of 
muse e into play. For this reason I have always advoca ed 
floor wo k to develop the wind. I have several plays illustrated 
fn this chapter which I have used with great success in rounding 
earn into' hape in this regard. As you will no doubt observe 
the ball s out of bounds under their opponents' basket ,n these 
Plays and the home team has to work it up to a PO^.t.on under 
tS own ^oal before a shot is taken. By this ^f^^^^^^^^ 
come to know just where their compamons »" *^ ' ^"^j *% 
be with the result that they soon pass the ball ■"^""'^'"'^'y '° 
other players. The working of these formations up and down 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY, 



the floor for ten or fifteen minutes previous to a scrimmage, will 
fire out even the more advanced players and it has always 
proved a great "wind" developer for me and my teams. Besides 
developing the wind, the formations also get the different men 
used to the place they ought to occupy on the floor when on 
the aggressive, should the ball go out of bounds under theif 



(^ 



& 



^^ 



© 



© 



Floor Plan, with Imaginary Divisions. 

Opponents' basket. In this way they are often able to rtm 
off a combination or at least start one in a game from such a 
place of disadvantage. Otherwise they would have to depend 
upon luck to work the sphere up to their own half of the floor 
and away from^ that of their opponents. The signal for this sort 
of a combination is generally called out by the player having 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 68 

the ball out of bounds, as No. i or No. 2, etc., just as the oppor- 
tunity arises for this or that combination to be worked success- 
fully. I have numbered the formations so that there will be no 
difficulty in knowing what formation is to be worked when the 
ball is passed in bounds. As soon as every player on the 
team hears the number he darts for the position called for by 
that particular combination. 

You will notice that in all of the foregoing formations, I 
have given the ball to the left guard out of bounds. This is not 
always essential. You can either give it to a center or to right 
guard, but it should be at least one of these three. The other 
four men inside the court should be lined up, two on each side, 
with the center of the floor left vacant through which the man 
passing the ball in from out of bounds may run. 

This is one point where many teams make a bad mistake, 
namely, that of bunching in the center. You will find that if 
you leave the center of the floor to be taken care of by the 
man who has passed the ball in bounds, and allow the other 
members of the team to play along the sides until they are within 
a radius of, say fifteen feet of the basket, you will be able to 
pass with very little difficulty around most of the teams which 
bunch their men in the center of the floor. I do not mean to 
say that a forward or guard should never go into the center 
after the ball, but what I do mean is, that after he has secured 
the ball and passed it to one of his companions on the outside 
of the court, he should resume his position on the outside where 
he can participate in the passing. The center man should always 
be in the center of the floor, to aid in getting the sphere from 
one side of the floor to the other by short, quick passes. The man 
who is assigned this center place must be an exceeding fast 
man on his feet, besides being able to pass equally well on both 
sides. He must also have a good eye for the basket, as he will 
get many chances to score, and unless he can turn the majority 
of these chances into points he cannot be considered a success in 
this critical position. 

It often happens that among the candidates trying for posi- 
tions on a team, you will have a big six-footer who can both 



60 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

jump and guard a man well, but who is slow on his feet 
Along with this sort of a man, you may find a short guard who 
IS exceedingly fast on his feet besides being a good goal 
thrower. If such should be the case, your problem is an easy 
one. Let the big center man as soon as he starts the ball rolling 
from the center, as shown in the combinations in the following 
chapter, drop back and cover the short guard's forward, while 
the latter goes up the floor and finishes out the combination, 
just as the center man would have done had he been fast 
enough. Very often this case happens, and if it does, do not 
hesitate to take advantage of it. In the floor combinations 
illustrated in this chapter, the left guard was the fastest man 
on the floor and thus was placea at the running guard position 
where he scored more goals than either of the forwards or 
center. The center man must, however, be very sure to cover 
the guard's forward when using this style of play, as must 
also the guard be sure to cover the opposing team's center when 
they have the ball. 

After the team has practiced these floor combinations for 
some time and have begun to show signs of endurance it is 
generally a good policy to let them have a little scrimmage 
practice, say, one full twenty-minute half. At the beginning of 
the season, however, it would be well if most of the time was 
spent on working out the floor formations until the men become 
accustomed to the proper locations of their team mates After 
they have acquired this knowledge it is generally well to give 
them a few of the simpler center combinations, illustrated in 
the following chapter. After a week or ten days of such work 
they will have begun to know each other and then is the time 
when the coach should get them down to good hard scrimmage 
work. But above all things have the men know several forma- 
tions from the center and out of bounds perfectly before they 
are placed at hard scrimmage. Do not be afraid, on the other 
hand, of giving them too much scrimmage work when endurance 
and wind justify it. Often it is best to give them a complete 
game twice a week, besides runing through their signals from 
both the center and out of bounds for ten or fifteen minutes. 



SfAtDlNG'S ATHLETIC LIBIlARt. ft 

This, however, is a point which each coach must decide for 
himself. 

As the season progresses the coach will have to keep a sharp 
lookout on his men to see if any of them are showing signs 
of staleness. A coach who is awake can easily detect this fault 
in his men. When such signs appear, either give the men a 
complete rest for a week or so or else cut down their scrimmage 
work and let them practice during the whole period on signal 
work, combinations from the center and shooting. One team 
which I coached for the championship of the State thus showed 
signs of becoming stale just previous to its final championship 
game. I immediately gave up all scrimmage work on the two 
afternoons each week in which they practised and simply gave 
them exercise in running through their combinations and shoot- 
ing. Some of the men came to me and begged to be allowed to 
have some scrimmage work and even the manager, who happened 
to be a teacher in the high school, thought that they ought to 
have some scrimmage work in order to get into trim for the big 
game. My reasons prevailed in this case, with the following 
result: When the game finally came off, the players were so 
anxious to get into the fray again, that when the whistle blew 
for the game to start, they literally took their opponents off of 
their feet with their speed. And throughout the entire game 
they played like fiends, were after the ball all the time, guarding 
their opponents when they had the ball, and were so superior to 
their opponents in their passing and combination work that they 
had no difficulty in winning the championship. And right here 
let me put in a word about getting the jump on your opponents 
at the start. Don't wait for them to score a goal, but make up 
your mind that it is going to be your team which will do the 
first scoring. The first goal scored is generally worth any other 
two in the entire content, so make up your mind when you 
go into the game that it is going to be your team which scores 
the first goal. 

In conclusion, let me say a word about dieting. I have never 
found that it was essential to put a bunch of basket ball players 
on a strict diet. I have found it necessary, however, that they 



64 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

should be limited in their consumption of candy, sweetmeats and 
pastry, and especially before a game do not allow them to eat a 
heavy meal. Players, however, who have their school's interest 
at heart will not need to be talked to more than once on this 
side of the question. The best thing for a player to eat previous 
to a game is two dropped eggs on toast and these should be 
eaten not less than an hour before the contest. They rest easy 
on the stomach and are easily and readily digested, besides giving 
the player sufficient energy. If, however, you should happen to 
notice that a certain player is not up to his usual condition and 
alertness in practice previous to the game and you want to 
bring him up if possible, I have found that giving him a couple 
of lumps of sugar will generally give him the energy which he 
lacks within half an hour from the time of eating. I know 
of several cases where it has braced up men during a contest 
with absolutely no ill effects afterwards. 

But a final word to coaches or those in charge of the team. 
Never criticize a player for a mistake in the heat of the con- 
test, or shortly afterwards, or before the rest of the team. If 
you need to speak to him at the time, take him aside and talk 
to him in the right manner. He will then not resent what you 
have to say to him and will not feel hurt, but will do his best 
not to make the mistake again. And lastly do not be afraid to 
give praise where praise is due. Some coaches never compli- 
ment their players on their fine work. Remember, players are 
human, and when they do a good piece of work they like to be 
told about it, especially by the coach who, in many cases, is a 
hero to them. A pat on the shoulder by my coach has been 
more to me than all the applause from the gallery. 




CENTERS READY FOR TOSS UP. 
Showing one position that may be assumed by feet when jumping for ball at center. 



64 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



FORMATIONS FOR PUTTING BALL IN 
PLAY FROM OUT OF BOUNDS 

DIRECT SIDE-CENTER PASS. 
Left Guard (No. 4) has the ball out of bounds under his op- 
ponents' basket. He passes it to center (No. i), who has taken 
up his place on the left side of the court. Center immediately and 
without hesitating drives it to left forward (No. 2), who has 
advanced down the floor toward his own goal and along the 
outside of the court, who in turn attempts a goal. It is abso- 
lutely necessary that the left forward (No. 2) in taking this 
pass, catch it while facing outward. He will then, in attempting 
to turn In toward his own goal, throw off any opponent who 
might be hanging on to him and thus have a clear chance to 
throw a goal. Some forwards get very proficient in making 
this fast shot and it is very liable to come in handy some time 
when just such a goal will mean victory to a team. Left guard 
(No. 4), who passed the ball in from out of bounds, continues 
up the floor through the center after making the pass, to a 
point as near In front of the goal as possible, where he can be 
of assistance to left forward (No. 2) should he fail in his 
attempt to score' a goal. Right forward (No. 3), on the right 
side of the floor, darts down the floor to a position on the right 
side of the basket as soon as the ball is passed in play, where 
he, too, can be of assistance to either the left forward or left 
guard, who has come down the floor in case they should fail to 
score. Center (No. i) and right guard (No. 5) are the men 
who must remain down the floor in the guard positions. 



cc 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



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SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 67 



CRISS-CROSS FORWARD PASS. 
Left guard (No. 4) has the ball out of bounds under his 
opponents' goal. He pasges it in to center (No. i) in the left 
hand corner of the court, who in turn gives it back to him (left 
guard, No. 4) as he goes down the floor. If the left guard man is 
especially fast on his feet he will get near enough to his basket 
to take a shot before the ball can reach him from the center 
man. If he does not get close enough to the goal to insure even 
a moderate degree of success to his attempt, he can pass the 
ball to either forward and thus complete the formation. The 
play, however, is primarily one in which the left guard does 
the shooting while on the dead run down the floor. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



SINGLE SIDE CROSS FORWARD. 
Left guard (No. 4) has the ball out of bounds under his 
opponents' basket; he passes It in to center (No, i) in the left 
hand corner of the court, who in turn gives it back to left guard 
(No. 4) as he goes down the floor. Left guard (No. 4) then 
shoots it to right guard (No. 5), who comes down the floor on 
the right side of him, and he in turn passes it over to left 
forv/ard (No. 2), who by this time has reached a place of 
advantage under his goal and from which position he shoots. 
Left guard (No. 4) continues straight down the floor until 
within a short distance in front of the goal. Right forward 
(No. 3) takes up his position on his side of the goal and again 
we have a hard goal shooting formation to break up. Right 
guard (No. S), after passing the ball to left forward (No. 2), 
must go back down the floor and guard his man. In this case 
also the center and right guard form the defense. 



Vo 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRART. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 71 



SIDE DIAGONAL PASS. 
Left guard (No. 4) has the ball out of bounds under his 
opponents' basket. He passes it in to right guard (No. 5), who 
in turn passes it back to left guard (No. 4), who has continued 
on down the floor through the center, after passing the ball in 
bounds. Left guard (No. 4) then passes the ball back to right 
guard (No. 5), who has also continued down the floor, but on 
the right side to about the center, from which position he passes 
it over to the left forward (No. 2), on the opposite side of the 
court, who can either attempt a goal or pass it back to left 
guard (No. 4) as he comes down the floor. Right guard (No. 
5), after passing the hall to left forward (No. 2), darts back 
and covers his man until further development arises. Right 
forward (No. 3), as soon as the ball is passed in bounds, 
sprints for his position on the right side of the basket, thus 
forming a triangular shooting formation. 



72 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 73 



DIRECT SIDE PASS. 
Left guard (No. 4) has the ball out of bounds under his 
opponents' basket. He passes it in to center ONo. i), who makes 
a high loop throw to the opposite corner of the room, where 
right guard (No. 5) receives the ball after sprinting down the 
floor. From this position right guard attempts a goal. This 
play will require some very fast footwork on the part of right 
guard (No. 5) and some accurate passing on the part o£ the 
player passing the ball, but if these two can work together 
so that right guard will get to the corner just as the ball gets 
there the play can be made most effective. Left guard (No. 
4), after passing the ball to center (No. i), continues down the 
floor until he reaches a place in front of the basket. Left 
forward (No. 2) takes up his place on the left side of the goal 
and thus we have three men again in front or around the basket 
ready to take their try at scoring a goal. One important point 
which is vital to the success of this play is that right forward 
(No. 3) must dart down the floor and cover left forward of 
the opponents, while the latter is playing forward and must 
stay there until right guard can get back and relieve him. 



74 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 





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This diagram is merely to show the position of the men on 
the floor when the ball is out of bounds under your opponents' 
goal or the position from which the floor formations are to be 
started. The whole team moves down the floor as a unit as the 
ball is passed in bounds and thus the various formations are 
evolved. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



75 



THE POSITION STYLE OF GAME 

Before concluding the writer feels it imperative to say some- 
thin- at least about the position style of game which is rapidly 
o-rowing in favor in the eastern part of the United States. The 
advantage of this style of play is that it allows the men more 
time for rest, not compelling them to follow an opponent who 
IS not in possession of the ball. This is especially true in case 
of the guards. We very often observe a guard who stands and 
watches his forward without regard to where the ball is. This 
stvle of game would have no use for this kind of a guard and 
in fact no style of play should. The game of basket ball, it 
seems to me, does not consist in simply guarding an opponent, 
but also in getting into the passing and team work _ _ 

In this style of game the floor is divided off by imaginary 
lines as follows: ^ 



^ 



(^ 



You will notice that there is a narrower space through the 
center than on either side. This space is the one through which 
the fastest man on the team must play. He must have as 
nearly as possible the qualities of a center, forward and guard 
combined. In the illustration I have represented the center as 
the fastest man, and therefore his place during the game will 



76 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

be in the territory through the middle of the floor. The right 
and left forwards will have positions similar to those assigned 
above, while the right and left guards will take up their 
positions in their opponents' territory as shown. With the team 
in this position on the floor it can be seen that every man has 
a place which he must fill, while the person with the ball can 
pass it without looking to that particular spot where his com- 
panion is supposed to be. The whole five men by this method 
are tied together in such a manner that they constitute a unit, 
and the success of the game depends entirely upon each playing 
his part in the machine. 

Let us take, for example, a team with the ball in their posses- 
sion working it up the floor. (See No. i on opposite page.) 

As shown here, the entire team shifts its position as a whole 
up the floor as the ball is passed back and forth. Right and 
left guards move up to a position on the floor not further than 
the center, while the forwards and center go still further up, 
and in this manner the integrity is preserved, so that at any 
moment should the opponents by any mishap happen to secure 
the ball, the entire team can swing back to the defensive. This 
would be as shown in No. 2. (Notice triangular defense (x).) 

The ball is illustrated as being in possession of the opponents. 

Here the two guards nave swung down the floor again to a 
position where their united eflPorts, together with those of the 
center, make it almost impossible for an opponent to get a 
clean shot at the basket. Right guard (No. 5), center (No. i) 
and left guard (No. 4), when on the defensive, form sort of a 
triangle, and this style of defense is one of the most difficult to 
break up. The forwards, it will be observed, take up their 
position near the center of the floor on their respective sides, 
so that they can break up the long shots as much as possible. 
In this manner almost every space to which a clean shot can 
be taken on the floor is occupied by one of the defensive men. 
Of course, I do not want the reader to misunderstand me, 
and think I mean that a player should not go out of his par- 
ticular space to help a team mate should two of the opposing 
team's men happen to be there. The success of this style, as I 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



77 



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78 SPALDING'S ATETLETIC LIBRARY. 

have stated before, depends largely upon co-operation, and a 
player, especially the center man, must be fast enough to get 
to either side of the floor to help either guard or forward- 
This style of game has no place for the grand stand player. 

Another precaution which must be remembered when trying 
out this style is that the guard must never allow one of the 
opposition forwards to get behind him and under his own 
basket. If a forward does get behind the guard, simply fall 
back in your place of defense and stay there. The forwards, 
on the other hand, when on the aggressive, must remember that 
they should break away from their guards as much as possible 
and go down underneath their own basket on the outside of the 
floor. Much greater success is achieved if the forwards alter- 
nate in doing this. 

A coach or player trying to learn this style of play must keep 
in mind that it is not to be mastered at one single practice, nor 
in fact in a whole year. If, however, a team will keep at it 
faithfully the results will show not only in conserving the wind 
of the players, who will be able to stand the strain of the game 
longer because of the fact that they are not obliged to follow 
a man around all the time, but also upon the team work. One 
important fact, however, must not be overlooked. You must 
get the right kind of man for the center player. If your center 
man does not happen to be fast enough or cannot use his head 
one of the guards should be used, who, after the combination is 
started from the center, falls into the center space and plays 
the part of the center while the latter falls into the guard's 
place and plays this position until a goal is scored by one of 
the teams. This will be found to work as well really as if the 
center were used. 

In fine, this style of play calls for more sacrifice of personal 
feelings and chances for glory than any other, yet if you can 
get the men on the team who will sacrifice their personal vanity, 
you can rest assured that the result in the end will be success 
for the entire team instead of success for any particular grand 
stand player on the team. Co-operation must be the slogan 
in all sorts of basket ball combinations, but in no one, perhaps, 
are they so necessary or so effective as in this style. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 79 

DUTIES OF THE CAPTAIN 

By Edwin S. Conner, Cleveland, Ohio. 

The captain is the important man when it comes to the game. 
Generally he is elected to the position because his team-mates 
think that he will make the best leader. After such a place i» 
given him he must show by his actions and bearing that he 
means to give the best that is in him for the interest of the 
team. No man of the squad is more interested and more eager 
to turn out a winner than he is. So it is up to him to keep the 
spirit at top-notch all the time. To do this, it is well for him 
to show a dash, an alertness and a fight which will spur the 
others on. He must know the rules so well that he is able to 
tell what they are at a minute's notice. With fair play on his 
lips and a determination to set the pace for the others, he will 
make a good captain. 

His real work comes as soon as the team is on the floor. 
From then until the end of the game, he is the master of every 
situation which may arise. At the beginning of the game it is 
well to flip a coin for choice of goal and to have an understand- 
ing with the opposing captain in the presence of the officials 
about the rules and ground rules necessary for the contest. Call 
the men together and explain the conditions under which the 
game is to be played. With everything well agreed upon the 
game ought to run off quickly and smoothly. With the first 
blow of the whistle, the captain should assume all rights of his 
position and see to it that they are strictly carried out. li an 
appeal is to be made to an official, it should be made the right 
way, then the captain should weigh it well before going to the 
official. Unless a decision is directly contrary to the rules, it is 
best to make the disputes as few as possible. 

While the game is in progress the captain must direct the play 
the best that he knows how. H things are breaking badly, call 
the players together, for some of them may see a way out. Do 
not depend upon the coach too much. He will probably be 




"HELD BALL." 
No foul is committed, as ball is held only by the hands. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 81 

ready to give advice between halves. Keep a close watch on 
the plays and players. Often the game will drop down because 
a man is all in or is shirking. In either case the quicker he gets 
out the better. A substitute will play a stronger game. 

When on the defense, work hard to solve the opponents' sys- 
tem of play. The minute that you find something that will 
break it up, let the others know. If on the offensive, you find 
that they are breaking up your style of play, do not hesitate 
about changing it. Keep the others guessing. 

Treat the visitors as well as you can. Keep their best respect 
by showing them that you are glad to meet them. At the time 
when a dicker is made for choice of goal, the courtesy of grant- 
ing the visitors their choice is always appreciated. Never look 
for an advantage unless you realize that your team is weaker. 
There is always a lot of pleasure in defeating a team with its 
strongest line-up. 

If you are going to play a game, don't protest it before the 
game. Either play or quit. Protests are never in good taste or 
in the true spirit of the game. 

As soon as the game is over; call the men together and give 
a yell. Show your opponents that you are game to the core 
whether you win or lose. Teams that can take a defeat are the 
ones which ought to win. Never leave the floor disgusted 
because things did not break your way. Begin right then plan- 
ning for the next game. Your turn will come later. 

In choosing a line-up it is well to consider what constitutes a 
good player. If a man is in condition, knows the game and 
likes to play, he will generally make good. Sometimes men who 
are out of condition play well, but what could they do if they 
were in good shape. The training of the captain often decides 
what will be good for the others. If he is willing to sacrifice a 
few things to the welfare of the team, the others are not slow 
in following his example. Such a spirit is always catching, and 
if it gets started it goes a long ways. The captain must be the 
leader off the floor as well as on it. ^ 

What you are the team will be. What you demand the team 
will fight for. So it is up to you, the captain, to do all in your 
power to make the game clean, popular and wholesome. 




TOSS UP AFTER HELX) BALL. 
(Note position of feet) 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 83 

DUTIES OF THE MANAGER 

By Edwin S. Conner, Cleveland, Ohio. 

Many duties fall on the shoulders of a manager for which he 
gets but little or no credit. Yet he is the man who keeps the 
machine oiled and in good running order. Everything crosses 
his path duing the season that can be thought of. So it follows 
that he must be one of the most essentially well qualified men in 
connection with the team. 

The following are among the many duties which he has to 
perform. First, the making out of a schedule ; second, the 
choice of floors for the game; third, the choice of officials; 
fourth, the financial condition of the team; fifth, the attention 
given to visiting teams ; sixth, the team on a trip ; seventh, the 
record and the report of the games. Other things will come up 
but can be attended to at the time. 

A good schedule is of vital importance to the welfare of a 
team. It keeps not only the players enthusiastic with something 
to look forward to, but also all of the followers of the game 
are interested. If it is made out so that the hard games come 
as the season advances, it will greatly aid in the final standing. 
This will help to work the men to an edge, which is the time 
for the hardest and closing ganxe. Still care should be taken 
<o arrange the games in regular order, so that they do not come 
too near together or too far apart. Of course, the maturity and 
the conditions of the men determine the frequency of the dates. 
Boys ought to be contented to play for a season of ten weeks, 
with one game a week. Men can play more often, but there is 
a question as to its advisability. Make the schedule as short as 
the season warrants, with no open dates to interfere with the 
interest of the game. If outside trips are planned, it is well to 
make them at the beginning of the season. Let nothing interfere 
with the games which mean most to the team. 

Often a manager is able to save himself a lot of trouble by 
entering a league. If there is no such organization it is well for 




READY FOR OVERHAND LOOP SHOT. 
(Note proper position of hands.) 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 85 

several managers to get together and form one. Then all of 
the team will play up to the same standard, be nearer equal in 
strength, have the same object in mind, and will be governed by 
the same board. This means more than it seems to at first 
glance For when all are made to observe the same rules and 
agree to abide by them good results are sure to follow. 

Again the managers of the different teams might meet to dis- 
cuss and agree upon the rules. At this meeting if would be pos- 
sible to have the prospective officials present to help determine 
the meaning of the rules. With such a combined understanding 
and agreement of the rules, it means better enforcement and a 
more satisfactory and a finer game all around. 

The manager of the independent team ha& a hard job on his 
hands. Between such teams there is very little in common and 
the games are likely to be of a low grade. Often the strength 
of a team, the age of the players, etc., is misstated, so that a 
team of boys line up against a team of men. Schedules should 
be made according to the strength of the team. It should never 
be underrated If there :s any glory in a victory, it comes by 
beating the best there is. Sometimes teams will back out at the 
last minute. To meet this a contract should be drawn up at the 
time of the agreement tc the effect that the team canceling the 
game within three weeks of the date shall forfeit to the other 
team a certain sum of money. This should be signed by both 
managers. As soon as teams that really want to play basket 
ball and live up to its spirit can be found, fix a game with them. 
Drop as far as possible all the fiend teams and stick to the ones 
that live, nearest to the heart of the game. In time this will 
bring good basket ball 

As soon as the schedule is out of the way and the rules are 
fixed upon- find out the size, kind and other particulars of the 
floor. Make ii a rule to play on a floor as near to the size of 
the one used in practice as possible. Because of the change of 
floors many teams of A-i caliber have been defeated by a second- 
rate five Make the conditions for both teams as nearly equal 
as possible. Don't invite "the crane to dinner and feed him 
Sxom a plate." Be square and demand squareness. 




"ONE-ARM HUG" 
With ball against the boir. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. , 87 

Most always the kind of game played depends to a great 
extent upon the officials. Be sure that you engage the best there 
is in the place Get the ones who are filled with the spirit of the 
game and who know the rules well. Such men are scarce. So 
when you find one who knows, can see and has the backbone 
to call, stick to him. Not only your team needs the man, but the 
game needs him. Nine times out of ten the game turns out to 
be just wha*: the officials make it. Too often the officials don't 
care foi much but the fee. If they demand pay, pay them well 
enough to demand a good job. 

Whatever money comes to the team comes by the planning of 
the manager The financial condition is generally in poor shape. 
Nothing is more encouraging than to start the season with a 
clean slate and finish with something to the good. Plan the 
expenses on a scale that can be met. If possible get some man 
or busmess house to furnish the men with uniforms. Then live 
well within the means of good credit. Do not go away or 
invite a team unless the expenses are a sure thing. 

When a team comes to your floor, show the players that ycJ 
are glad to meet them. Give them the heartiest welcome that 
you can extend. Often not even a social good cheer is manifest 
between the players. Now, basket ball is too good a game for 
that No team should ever leave the floor claiming poor treat- 
ment. The best that can be extended to them is none too good. 
If you have a special dressing room for them, see if there is 
anything that they need. Fair treatment is always a good in- 
vestment. 

For the interest of the men, keep score and every little while 
post a record of the work of the players This together with a 
good report of the games will keep the spirit away up where it 
belongs. Make it a point to report your own games. In doing 
this try to be fair and give each one who was in the game credit 
for what he did. Don't fail to have the game in the papers. 

In a word, a manager should be a wide-awake hustler who is 
ready to drop whatever he has if he can find something better. 
He should be proud of the game which he represents and what- 
ever step he takes should be in the direction of putting it on a 
higher plane and on a more solid foundation. 




"HUGGING BALL" 
With both arms and against body; a foul. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



DUTIES OF THE COACH 

By Edwin S. Conner, Cleveland, Ohio. 

The coach of the present day means more to the men who are 
under him than the leader of any other profession. He is the 
"Mecca" of their thought and whatever he says or does always 
seems right to them. He can teach them any kind of a game 
and they will do all that is in their power to follow his instruc- 
tions. They long for his advice and company and will stick to 
him through thick and thin. This close touch with them gives 
him a chance to mould into their games elements of a quality 
which will influence them through life. 

The real importance of the coach will be more felt in the 
future than ever before. Not long ago a victory would stamp 
his success. In many cases his job depended upon the number 
of games won. To this end he must turn out a winning team. 
Two things were necessary. First, men who were physically 
fit; second, a variety of play that would smother an opponent. 
When his men went on to the floor, he knew they would meet 
a team fully as strong and equally as well trained in all depart- 
ments of the game. To get some kind of an advantage tactics 
of a low nature were allowed which might turn the tide of bat- 
tle and bring the much-sought crown of glory. Things which 
were on hand, could be borrowed or could be invented, were 
introduced. This ate out the heart of the game until it was 
considered by many as a public nuisance. No game, however 
strong, will last unless he is a living example of the spirit which 
it represents. In order to make the game what it was intended 
to be, a stronger demand must be made by all for the best there 
is in it. As soon as the coach demands the elimination of the 
evil tendencies and makes his work develop and stand for the 
elements of fairness in all things, his profession will be more 
appreciated by all. 

Nothing detracts from a game more than a lax interpretation 
of the rules. Ignoring the rules or their spirit is disregarding 




" HACKING." 
One player is about to throw for goal and other player is about to strike his 

arm ; foul. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 91 

the rights of others. The rules must be taught. They are a 
wholesome part of the game. The man who can see a chance to 
crawl around a rule and breaks away from its meaning is doing 
a great injustice to a team and also to the game. Keep at all 
times well within the bounds of what the game ought to be. It 
is easy to let the rules go. The audience knows -very little 
about them. They get their opinion of the game as it is played 
and report it to others who imagine the game far different from 
what it really is. If the coaches are proud of the game that 
they teach, they must teach and demand better knowledge and 
better enforcement of the rules. 

It is hard to suggest a method for coaching a team, for each 
man has a way of getting the most out of his men in a limited 
amount of time. He is the physician who must get his patient 
in the most robust condition in a specified time. So all of his 
orders must be most carefully observed. A team that is coached 
right, so that it is in its best condition the day of the hardest 
game, is no little task. If this can be done, then there is noth- 
ing further to consider. 

There are a few things which mean a great deal to the team. 
Often a young coach will try to develop the team too quickly. 
He has a lot of material on hand, but does not consider the 
time it took to get it. With young and inexperienced men a 
great deal of patience and time must be spent. The coaching 
that is given must be of a simple nature. Complex plays demand 
too much time and are beyond the ability of the player, and they 
also demand frequent and long practice, which calls for so much 
energy that by mid-season the whole squad is stale. When the 
contest comes the players will be up against plays which they 
cannot work. The time has been thrown away. So teach things 
that will be used. A fellow cannot go beyond his ability. The 
team will develop faster by giving them a few easy plays, each 
new one to come only after the old one has been well learned. 
The team must be a machine. A simple one that will work is 
better than a complicated one that will not. Then of course 
older men in experience can be worked longer, harder and given 
more different plays. Yet mature players are often out of con- 




"HUGGING BALL WITH BOTH ARMS ONLY." 
The ball is held in crook of under eurm euid is a foul play^ 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 93 

dition for the hardest game. Too much practice is often the 
reason for a poor showing. 

The length and frequency of practice is an important factor. 
Too much work will kill a good team. Here the age and the 
experience of the players must be considered. Most players, 
unless watched, will go beyond the point of all that is good for 
them. Try to make the practice of a limited length. Demand 
that the players are dressed and on hand at the appointed time. 
Never allow them to wait. Have the practice and get through as 
planned. Boys should not be encouraged to practice more than 
two (2) hours weekly and thirty (30) minutes a day is plenty, 
while for men the time spent for the best work should not 
exceed three hours a week. The preliminary work, if light, may 
run for a long time, but the actual scrimmage should not be 
longer than the contest. This will put the men in the best pos- 
sible condition. 

A strong, well-trained team speaks very highly of the coach. 
Nothing is more pleasing to the coach than a team which has 
been drilled until it is a machine. The team must be fast, sure 
and in order. It must take every advantage of an opponent. It 
must have a variety of play so that a change can be made if it 
becomes necessary. Endurance and coolness throughout the 
game will help to make the pace too strong for mcJst to follow. 
The team-work must be filled with accurate, well-timed passing 
which ends in goal throwing. A team that can handle itself as a 
unit has been well coached. 

All of the work should be in behalf of the team. Individual 
playing must not be allowed for a minute. When the star begins 
to get out of his true course in the basket ball system, the whole 
thing goes wrong. Shining will never win basket ball games 
unless all five shine. 

The value of good condition is always felt during the game. 
With a good style of play and the boys in good condition, there 
can be but little doubt as to the kind of game played. The 
word of the coach will go as far toward good training as that 
of anyone. He should demand that the players eat wholesome 
food and that they get plenty of rest. If each man is expected 




No. 1 . Holding in an attempt to guard. No, 2. One of the worst forms of hold- 
Note that the arm in this picture is ing ; preventing an opponent from 
curved. breaking away. 




No. 3. Another bad form of holding. 
This and the method illustrated in the 
above picture must be carefully 
watched, as it is very hard to detect. 



No; 4. This example of holding is often 
done so quickly that it is not easily 
seen. It is a very important foul, for 
it always deflects a duow. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LiBRARr. 9S 

to live right during the season he will generally do it. The 
fellows must be made to feel that this is true. It isn't a case of 
watching over a fellow ; it is a case of his willingness not to 
do the thing which hurts him. Encourage the boys to take a 
good bath with a brisk rub-down following the practice. The 
bath had better come before the player begins to cool off. 

Many coaches coach from the side lines. If this is legal, then 
it is all right, but if the rules forbid it, it is poor policy. For 
it is hard to teach a rule if the teacher cannot keep one himself. 
This comes to the point as to whether it is the skill of the coach 
or the skill of the player that he has trained that is being shown. 
It is the best plan to do everything in connection with the game 
as it should be done. 

Advise and encourage the players before the game. Watch 
their playing. Correct it during the time between halves and let 
them do the rest. 

Teach each man what is expected of him. Let him under- 
stand that he is to give what he has in him to the game. If 
things arise which are against him, have him tell the captain, 
who will see to the trouble. Many teams are run without the 
players having any idea of what they are to do. This means 
poor basket ball. 

The coaches must work more for the popularity and love of 
the game than for the victory. If they do not some other game 
will take the place of basket ball. 




No. 5. A form -. iig used by a No. 6. A form of pushing by a center 

center to prevent his opponent from to prevent his opponent from jumiHQg 

jumping for the ball. for the ball. 




No. 7. 

Pushing an opponent about to throw for goal. Particular attention must be paid 
to this offense, the penalty for which is disqualification. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 97 



THE GROUNDS 

These are the gymnasium floor cleared o£ apparatus, though 
any building of this nature would suit. If there is a gallery 
or running-track around the building the baskets may be hung 
up on this, one at each end, and the bounds marked out on the 
floor just beneath this gallery. The appar^us may be stored 
away behind this line and thus be ou+' of the field of play. If 
there is no gallery, the baskets may je hung on the wall, one 
at each end. In an armory or other building where floor space 
is too large to put baskets on gallery or wall, portable stands 
may be used and rolled out of the way at end of game.. Where 
a hall is used and one end has a stage one portable stand may 
be used for the stage end and the other hung on wall or gallery. 
In an open field a couple of posts may be set up with baskets 
on top, and set at the most convenient* distance. Out of doors, 
with plenty of room, the fields ?nay be most any size, 50 feet 
wide by 70 feet long making an ideal playing field. The ball 
must be passed into the field when outside these lines. At a 
picnic the baskets may be hung on a couple of trees and the 
game carried on as usual. 

The object of the game is to DUt the ball into your opponent's 
basket. This may be done by throwing the ball from any part 
of the grounds, with one or both hands under the conditions and 
rules described in Spalding's Official Basket Ball Guide. 




%^ 




No. 8. 

A common practice of pushing an opponent upon a break to receive a pass. This 

must be carefully watched, as it prev ints the man pushed from guarding his 

opponent. 





No. 9. 



Illegal form of breaking away from an opponent to receive a p£iss. The man on the 
left is pulling his opponent by him and will receive a cle£ur oass. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 99 

HOW TO OFFICIATE 

By George T. Hepbron. 

The fact that a man is a good player is not sujfficient reason 
for selecting him to be an official. In addition, he must have 
character and backbone. 

If, among others, the following characteristics are exhibited 
by the officials, the games this season will be better officered, 
and less friction will be manifested : 

1. Instant recognition of a violated rule and the penalty for 
same. 

2. Backbone enough to make a decision and stick to it. 

3. Abstinence from fault finding. (The duty of officials is to 
make decisions — not to lecture the players.) 

4. Readiness to explain in the fewest possible words why that 
particular ruling was made. 

5. Willingness to produce the rule as authority for action. 

6. Never, under any circumstances, allowing the prolonged 
discussion of a rule during the progress of the game. 

7. Willingness to allow the players the privilege of appeal 
from his interpretation of the rules to the proper committee. 

8. Kindness and courtesy to all and the maintenance of a level 
head under trying circumstances. 

9. A strong purpose to follow the rules in letter and spirit, 
and a determination not to be susceptible to outside influences. 

10. Will not overstep his authority, appreciating at the same 
time his full duty. 

11. Knows the rules so well that a reversal of decision is not 
necessary. 

12. Impartial in all his dealings. 



100 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARl-. 



HOW TO SCORE BASKET BALL 

By Luther Halsey Gulick, M.D. 

The increased use of the score book has resulted in the teams 
getting down to more scientific playing. Better records were 
kept, and the managers were able to size up their men more 
accurately. This score book is almost a necessity to the manager 
of a team who wishes to keep accurate record of all his players; 
who made the fouls and what kind of fouls; who made the 
goals, and under what conditions they were made. A sample 
page for a single team is herewith given. In the first column is 
found the names of the team and the players; in the second 
column, the goals that were made during the first half. In this 
column will be found three sets of marks : an X, which is a 
goal from the field; an O, which is an attempted goal from a 
free throw, but which was missed, and an X inside of an O, 
which means a goal thrown from a free throw. The X, of 
course, counts two points, the O nothing, and the X inside an O, 
one point. At the bottom of the column is the total number of 
points made during that half. In the third column are the fouls. 
First is Ai. By referring to the bottom of the page, under the 
head of FOULS, we see that Ai is for delaying the game. This 
foul, together with A5 and A4, was made by John Jones. If 
A. P. Yost had made another Class B foul, he would have been 
disqualified. In the second half, the captain thought that Chas. 
Brown would best make the free throws, but after two failures, 
he went back to John Jones, who scored two. A score kept in 
this way is of the greatest value, and without it a scientific esti- 
mate of the men is hardly possible. 



s 




I 




StKeTHE SPALDING 



QUALITY 



Offt(en 



pajKOininig 

1 Eaglkat Ball 




Cover is made in 
four sections, with 
capless ends and 
of finest and most 
carefully selected 
pebble grain lea- 
ther, which /s spe- 
cial tanned. 

See our guarantee 
below. 



No.M 
Each, $12.00 



SPALDING ARMY AND NAVY BASKET BALL 

No.M-l. Superior to any except our No.M Official Basket Ball. Each, $10.50 

WE GUARANTEE ^^^'^ ^°- ^ ^"*^ ^°' ^-^ Basket Ball to be perfect m 
material and workmanship and correct in shape and size 
when inspected at our factory. If any defect is discovered during the first game in 
which they are used, or during the first day's practice use, and, if returned at once, we will 
replace same under this guarantee. We do not guarantee against ordinary wear nor 
against defect in shape or size that is not discovered immediately after the first day's 
use. Owing to the superb quality of our No. M and No. M-1 Basket Ball, our customers 
have grown to expect a season's use of one ball, and at times make unreasonable claims 
under our guarantee, which we will not allow. /^^ q^ SPALDING & BROS. 



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SPALDING 
"SUPERIOR" BASKET BALL 

No. M-2. Pebble grain leather. . Each. $9.00 

SPALDING 
"REGULATION" BASKET BALL 

No. M-3. Durable pebbled grain leather. 

Each. $7.50 

SPALDING 
"SERVICE" BASKET BALL 

No. M-4. Made of good quality leather. 

Each, $6.00 

SPALDING 
PRACTICE BASKET BALL 

No. 18. Good quality leather cover. Guaran- 
teed bladder, lace and lacing needle. 

Each. $5.00 

SPALDING BLADDERS 

Rubber bladders bearing our Trade- 
Mark are guaranteed perfect in material 
and workmanship. Note explanation of 
guarantee on tag attached to bladder. 
No. OM. ForNos. M. M 1. M-2. M-3, 

M-4. PGO. PVO and PKO balls. 

Each. $1.50 

No. A. For No. 18 ball. " .90 



No. PGO 



SPALDING 
PLAYGROUND BASKET BALLS 

No. PGO. "Official." Pebbled grain leather. 

Specially protected seams for playground use. 

Regulation size. ...... Each, $9.00 

No. PVO. "Army and Navy." Outseam style. 

Pebbled leather Each, $7.50 

No. PKO. "Service." Good quality leather, 

protected seams. For playground use. 

Each, $6.00 

SPALDING CANVAS HOLDER 

No. 01. Useful for teams to carry properly 
inflated basket ball Each. $2.50 

BASKET BALL SCORE BOOKS 

No. 10. Paper cover. 10 games. . Each, 10c. 
No. 11. Cloth cover. 25 games. . . " 25c. 
No. A. Collegiate.paper cover, 10 games" 10c. 
No. B. Collegiate, cloth cover, 25 games" 25c. 

No. W. For Women " 25c. 

For complete line of Basket Ball Equipment see 
our Fall Catalogue. Mailed on request. 



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THE SPALDING 



TRADE-MARK ^Sf 



SPALDING OFFICIAL BASKET BALL GOAL 




D 



f 



Vo.90 



No. 90. Official Goal. So far as we know this is the only drop-forged goal made 
Practically unbreakable. Extra heavy nets. This style should be used in al 
gymnasiums Pair, $7.5( 

Spalding Nets, Separate, for Goals 

Made of heavy twine; hand knitted ; white. The same as supplied with our No 
90 Goals Pair, 75c 



Spalding Basket Ball Whistles 




No. 2 



No. 4. Horn Whistle; nickel-plated. No. 7. Nickel-plated, heavy meta 

made of heavy metal. Each, $1.10 whistle. The most satisfactory an 

No. 3. Nickel-plated, special deep tone. loudest of any Each, 55< 

Each, 40c. No. 2. Reliable; populardesign. " 30< 



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No. BBL 




Sole of No. AB Shoe Sole of BBL Shoe 

No. AB. High cut, leather. Blucher cut, with No. BBL, Women's. High cut, light, black 

heavy red rubber suction soles, superior leather, good quality red rubber suction soles, 

quality Pair, $7.50 Pair, $6.00 

SPALDING GYMNASIUM SHOES 

Gymnasium shoes must be comfortable and easy, yet fit snugly and give the v/earer a sure footing-" 

they must also be durable. Spalding Gymnasium Shoes possess all these good qualities 

and, in addition, are reasonable in price. 




No. IS. High cut, kangaroo uppers ; genuine elkskin soles; will not slip on floor; extra light; the 

correct shoes to wear for boxing ^^l'^' $7.50 

No. 155. High cut; elkskin soles ; soft and flexible \\ 6.00 

No. 166. Low cut, selected leather, extra light electric soles || 5.00 

No. 66L. Women's low cut, extra light selected leather uppers, electric soles. ... " 5.00 
No. 21. High cut, black leather; electric soles sewed and turned, which make shoes extremely 

light and flexible Pair, $4.00 

No. 20. Low cut, otherwise same as No. 21; sewed and turned shoes ]| 3.50 

No, 20L. Same as No. 20, but in women's sizes " 3.50 



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N TRACK AND FIELD 

sports Spalding implements 
have been pre-eminent. 
From the running shoes for 
Olympic winners to the mis- 
siles of hammer and weight 
throwers, Spalding goods are 
always in evidence when 
championships are won or 
records made. 



'^^ 



! / '^, 



ii 



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The ruling bodies in European track and 
field athletics certify to Splding (2uaJ'ty in 
the recognition of Spalding implements for 
use in Olympic and Championship contests. 



Don't be led astray by the 
false cry of cheapness and 
"just as good." Remember 
that superiority in competi- 
tion is the result of Quality 
in equipment. 



k 






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